February

To-date (29/02)

Trip duration: 187 days

Countries visited (exc UK): 8

Locations Visited: 53

Distance Travelled: 27,183 KM

Steps Walked: 2,299,572

This month

Countries Visited: 1 (India)

Locations Visited: 12 (Coimbatore, Gokarna, Olaulim, Majorda, Hampi, Badami, Hubli, Kolkata, Bodh Gaya, Varanasi - Kajuraho - Agra)

Distance Travelled: 5,608KM

Days moving: 11

Longest stay: Kolkata  (5 days)

Steps walked: 306,648

We finished January with an overnight stop in the busy city of Coimbatore, then started February with another brief beach break in beautiful Gokarna. This month will see us reach the North East with an unwanted (but sadly necessary) flight up to Kolkata, then start moving westward once again, just reaching Agra for the end of the month.

1st to 4th

We called at the beach town of Gokarna, which has kind of picked up where Goa left off. Two full days of walking on beaches and exploring the seaside was bliss!

4th to 7th

The small resort of Olaulim Backyards came strongly recommended, and we could see why as soon as we arrived. A few nights here was just what we needed to finish off the battery recharge started at Gokarna, before pressing on for another dose of temples and ruins. We stopped overnight in Majorda on our way south and east towards Hampi

8th to 12th

We enjoyed a few days in the magnificent landscape of Hampi, to explore the devastation of a once magnificent city, utterly ruined some 400 years ago. Whilst we only visited the most central parts of the city, this is definitely a place you could spend more time at - if only it were a little easier to get to!

12th to 15th

From Hampi we headed back to Hubballi (not the most efficient route, but hey!) spending a day and two nights in Badami on the way. Badami has some amazing 6th century cave temples and  the ruins of an impressive fort from the same period. Hubli has cool coffee shops and  railway museum, plus an Airport, which we used to fly to Kolkata.

15th to 20th

A few days in the big city once again, enjoying the great food and various sights of Kolkota, while sometimes struggling with the incredible contradictions that just seem so much starker in a rich city like this one.

20th to 23rd

A couple of days in the small town that has grown up around Bodh Gaya, the foundation point of Buddhhism.

23rd to 26th

Varanasi was a must visit place for me on this trip, and it's a genuinely fascinating city, tied as it is to all aspects of life and death in the Hindu religion.

26th to 29th

The 1000 year old temples of Kajuraho are incredible examples of sacred Hindu and Jain archeology. Plus they have some rude bits, giggle...

29th

We wrapped up February with a long day on a train, getting from Kajuraho to Agra. Prime tourist areas now!